Question:
My shoulder began hurting two months ago after overstressing it and it keeps getting worse...
I am a writer who for many a year played tennis for a good 2 hours 3-4 to times a week. At first the pain only came on or returning a very deep backhand shot. (I m right handed). Since then I can lift my arm sideways to shoulder lever -- no pain. Extend that to a full lateral overhead reach, still OK; only on bringing that lateral motion down does pain occur, and that only at the last segment of the movement.
Lift arm IN FRONT to shoulder level -- little pain
Raise arm fully in front, pain increases and I hear a click.
Swing right arm level and right hand touching left shoulder, pain increases. If I use left hand to support right elbow level: no pain.
Worst time is at night in bed. then pain wakes me time and time again... pain subsides once I get up. Before this I would be fast asleep seconds after turning off the light. I have tried two ibuprofen twice a day , increasing that to two, and then 400+ MG Naproxen three times a day. Neither seems to help. I have tried hot compresses three time a day. It helps in the daytime but not at night. I have also tried exercises to compensate for a slouching posture. I tired exersices to putting my right hand over my shoulder and pushing it to reach my back with my right fingers.
As long as I support the elbow, no pain. No support pain.
Asked by foredeck3 - 1 answer - 2 years 31 weeks ago
Hi,
It sounds like your rotator cuff muscles have become quite tight and inflamed over time due to overuse. Working as a writer and playing tennis makes you a prime candidate.
Have you had any muscular treatment in terms of trigger point therapy or myotherapy? I work as a myotherapist (muscle specialist) and have had a lot of success treating shoulder injuries, mainly because I had one and therefore did quite a lot of research. Deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy to my rotator cuff was the key. If you can get a (good) therapist to treat your supraspinatis, teres minor, infraspinatis and subscapularis (these last two are really important) that would be a great start and you should feel a reduction of pain after one session - this will let you know you're on the right track.
I also found the book "The Frozen Shoulder Workbook" written by Clair Davies really helpful (you don't have to have frozen shoulder for it to be helpful). The author shows you how to treat your own shoulder muscles with diagrams and thorough but simple language, which is great as getting treatments can be expensive.
Having your shoulder keeping you up at night is pretty awful and you must be over it, but the treatment can actually be quite simple. I can't stress enough how effective deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy are to a rotator cuff injury.
Good luck with it, I hope you get some relief soon.
Submitted 2 years 30 weeks ago by moyanp